ECO-LINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE ON GLOBALIZATION AND INCLUSIVENESS IN THE NATURE POEMS OF REMI RAJI AND NIYI OSUNDARE

Abstract

This paper applies an eco-linguistic framework to explore how the nature poems of Remi Raji and Niyi Osundare reflect the impact of globalization on linguistic diversity, cultural identity and social inclusion. Through a critical analysis of poems like Osundare’s “The Forest” and Raji’s “Ecology of Remembrance”, this study reveals how these, poets employ ecological metaphors, imagery and language to resist linguistic homogenization, cultural erasure, and environmental degradation. Environmental degradation has been found to have a link with a language use. The attention of the reading audience was first drawn to these anomalies by the nature poets who were alarmed by the obvious danger posed to natural environment as a result of the Industrial Revolution. Similar studies of many nature poets, (e.g.Tanure Ojaide and Christopher Okigbo) have researched on the different ways our natural environments are being endangered. However, no known literary/academic submission seems to have taken into account the eco-linguistic analysis of the havoc being done to our natural environments as a result of the degrading use of language and destructive human activities. This paper therefore examines how Niyi Osundare inter-textually connects with Rerni Raji’s poetic vision of environmental sustainability and how their literary works initiate an environmental dialogue which is subsumed in the United Nation’s Seventeen goals of global sustainability. This paper highlights the ways in which Osundare’s and Raji’s poetry promotes linguistic diversity, cultural inclusiveness and ecological sustainability, offering a de-colonial perspective on Globalization and its effects on local cultures and languages. In addition, it contributes to our understanding of the role of eco-linguistics in literary studies and the importance of nature poetry in promoting linguistic diversity and cultural inclusiveness in a globalized world. Furthermore, it is believed that this paper will enhance environmental preservation, global sustainability and peaceful coexistence of human being and his natural environment.